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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Montana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Michael Bearhill, Jr. Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 21, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, MICHAEL BEARHILL, JR., a 21-year-old resident of Wolf Point and an enrolled member of a federally-recognized tribe, pled guilty to robbery. Sentencing has been set for August 27, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In the early hours of February 2, 2013, BEARHILL entered a convenience store in Wolf Point, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and pointed what appeared to be a gun at two employees behind the counter. He forced them to open the till while he continued to point the gun at an employee. An employee described the robber as having a blank stare, and she realized he was serious. He removed over $300 from the till and fled. He was later identified on video by other employees as BEARHILL.

When questioned, BEARHILL admitted to going into the convenience store, pulling a gun out of his coat, and telling the employees he wanted money.

BEARHILL faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.